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NEW IN THE OLD – NO STORAGE!
FRIDAY, MAY 22
Luke 5:33-39

Memory verse: Luke 5:38-39

 

“…new wine must be
put into new bottles;

and both are preserved.”

 

NEW IN THE OLD – NO STORAGE!
 
The second part of Jesus’ parable pertains to the storage of wine. It was customary in those days that new wine had to be stored in new bottles. The reason was obvious to all in the days of Jesus. Wine ferments once it is not stored in refrigerated conditions. This is the nature of grape juice. Fermentation of the grape juice turns the juice into wine with a low percentage of alcohol. The consequence is the emission of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide causes the leathery wine bottle to expand. Since it is new wine in a new, supple, leathery bottle, it expands and will not burst like an old, stiff, hardened leathery bottle. The old leathery bottle will crack and burst. It is only good for putting in old wine that has gone through the whole fermentation process and no longer emits carbon dioxide. Using this common experience in storing wine, Jesus said, “no man putteth new (i.e. fresh) wine into old bottles.” Jesus also added that new (i.e. fresh) wine must be put into new bottles. When new wine is put into new bottles, both are preserved. All who believe in Christ alone to save them is like the new wine placed in new bottles. The truth of Christ with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will keep the saint saved forever. He will not then believe in salvation through the good Christian works of the Pharisees. Neither can salvation by good works (old wine) be placed in the new bottle (salvation by grace in Christ). The two cannot mix.
 
However, it takes time for the Pharisees and their followers to reject the errors and find the truth. Christ taught this in verse 39, where He said that anyone who has drunk old wine would not immediately desire the new as he thinks the old is better. This refers to the Pharisees who struggled to believe in the teaching of Christ that all they needed to be saved from their sin was to believe in Christ. They still believed that their old way of salvation through Christian good works was better because it still felt good to them. This is true of salvation for all people. It is hard to suddenly acknowledge that their perception all their lives is wrong and that they now need to repudiate all of it before they can receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. But this is what salvation entails. The new cannot be contained in the old, like new wine is never put into old wine bottles.
 
THOUGHT: Do I truly have Christ alone as my Lord and Saviour?

PRAYER: Thank You, Father, that Christ alone is my Lord and Saviour.

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